Aldermen approve razing three blighted houses

New Bernaldermen approved the demolition of three houses Tuesday that did not meet city regulations after the property owners were notified.

Eddie Fitzgerald, Sun Journal Staff

New Bernaldermen approved the demolition of three houses Tuesday that did not meet city regulations after the property owners were notified.

The board adopted ordinances for demolition of dwellings located at 1230 Ceder St., 1710 Wilmington St. and 809 Lees Avenue, and tabled a fourth request from the city to demolish a dwelling at 202 Poplar Street to get more information.

Mike Epperson, city manager, said the city set a hearing for the owner of the 1230 Ceder St.property but the owner never showed.

Alderman Victor Taylor asked if a letter was sent to the owners after the hearing, and Jeff Ruggieri, director of development services, said yes it was sent by certified mail.

Ruggieri said the city went beyond what it would normally do to give the property owner a chance to being the house up to standard.

“It is never our goal to tear down homes,” Ruggieri said. “Our goal is to get compliance.”

Ruggieri said the owner was first notified of violations in September 2007 and since then it has changed ownership twice. The final hearing was held in April 2013.

According to city staff reports, no substantial progress was made on the house between 2007 and 2013 to bring it into compliance, including no requests for permits since the recent hearing in April.

The owner of 1710 Wilmington St. was notified of violations in November 2007. Hearings between the city and property owner were held in July of 2007 and April 2013, according to staff reports.

Ruggieri said the house was involved in a fire in 2011.

No progress has been made to bring the property into compliance, reports show.

The owner of 202 Poplar Street was notified of violations in February 2010.

Alderman Victor Taylor said he received a telephone call from Larry Casey the administrators for his late sister who said he did not know it was being considered for demolition.

A hearing was held between the city and owner in February 2011.

Following the hearing, the owner filed for a building permit in March 2011 to make the necessary repairs to bring the property into compliance. But the permit expired with minimal work completed, according to staff reports.

In July 2012, a second hearing was held and the property owner was not present. No progress has been made and no other permits have been applied for, according to reports.

The board tabled the matter because Casey reportedly wants to correct the violations.

Ruggieri said the dwelling at 809 Lees Avenue was damaged by Hurricane Irene and needed to be elevated out of the floodplain to meet current flood regulations but has not been elevated.

The house sustained damages in excess of 50 percent of the value of the property, reports show.

A hearing was held on Feb. 14, 2013 and the property owner was not present. No progress has been made and no permits have been applied for, reports show.

Alderman Sabrina Bengel commended development services for getting the demolitions done. She said she talked with a woman who lived for 10 years beside a house that was recently demolish and the woman cried she was so happy.

Epperson said the current Board of Aldermen adopted a policy during its first year to rid blighted property from the city. The second year of their term they increased the budget for demolition 1,000 percent from $10,000 to $100,000.

The city is spending $70,000 to $100,000 a year to rid blighted houses from neighborhoods, Epperson said.

Also during the meeting Aldermen approved a resolution to close Carmer Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 20 for Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church Family Fun Day.

A public hearing was also set for July 23 to rename the 700 Block of A Street and B street. The western portions of both streets are separated by the railroads and are unreachable from National Avenue during emergencies.

Eddie Fitzgerald can be reached at 252-635-5675 or at eddie.fitzgerald@newbernsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @staffwriter3.

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